John Waite Rough & Tumble

Ask any rock fan who grew up in the ‘80s about John Waite, and they’ll probably smile and agree that he has one of the most signature voices of the era. Well, Waite is back to rough of us a bit with a delightfully inspired album of Nashville-tinged rock ‘n roll.

Rough & Tumble is Waite’s first studio album of original material since 2007’s Downtown: Journey of a Heart and long-time fans will not be disappointed. The album features some of the best melodic moments of his career but—to Waite’s creative credit—it is not a safe retread of a proven pop formula.

Rough & Tumble has a stripped down, organic rawness to it. Gone are the huge multi-layered vocals and keyboards in favor of guitar/bass/drums purity. At first a little disconcerting, you’ll soon realize the more straightforward sound is the perfect showcase for Waite’s clear emotive vocals, and also sounds just downright cool.

Credit for this new direction must go in part to Matchbox Twenty guitarist Kyle Cook, who was Waite’s songwriting partner for the past year and a half. The combination of Waite’s rich, dignified vocals and Cook’s Southern honkytonk Strat is both sexy and stunning.

On the Tom Pettyesque “Evil,” Waite sings, “Start to feel the rush of the 4/4 time / Moonlight’s kickin’ in the door.” The slithery groove and sultry vocal will make you want to turn up the red lights and dance like no one’s watching.

Waite goes for the gold on “If You Ever Get Lonely, a ballad so beautiful, it will stop you in your tracks. One of the best songs of Waite’s career, it is as “hit single” as a song gets. (Producers of Showtime’s Californication series should take note: this is the perfect song for an episode.)

The acoustic “Skyward” is another highlight: simple yet lush, it is both inspiring and life affirming. And “Better Off Gone” is immediately one of the best breakup songs of all time; full of motion and hope. Gonna let these horses run straight into the morning sun / I’m better off gone. Waite reminds us it’s ok to live, love, lose—and, if needed, relocate.

John Waite—one of rock’s rarest gems—is back and better than ever. Buy Rough & Tumble and be reminded what great rock music is supposed to sound like. And if you get the chance, see Waite live this time ‘round if you can.

2 Comments on John Waite Rough & Tumble

Dear Alex, thanks for the kind review. The album seems to getting a great reception and me and the band are looking forward to getting out there and playing. Things happen when you least expect them, life is cool! best John.

I bought this cd from England on E bay, it came out in Europe in January. I have listened to it for the past week and really love it, it is very fresh, not 80’s sounding, John looks forward, not back (yes he re-groves some older material, but makes it more “Modern”). As a fan I put this Cd up there with his best, and recommend it wholeheartedly. The only question is that Amazon shows 10 tracks on the Cd, and 11 on the Download. My import has 12. The 11th track is a remake of “Mr. Wonderful” (very good), and the the 12th is “Hanging Tree” (a very cool “story” tune). I really love all of the songs, there is really no “weak point” on this disc, no filler material (John does not bother with that). Here’s what I think. I really Love the title song (Luis and John wrote it, works very well, wicked guitar riff), “Shadows” is “Born a single”, “Evil” has a “catchy groove” and was a Kyle Cook and John Waite joint”, “If you ever get lonely” is “100% awesome Waite”, “skyward” has got a real “Feel good song” vibe to it, “Sweet Rhode Island Red” is a Tina Turner song and John “Just nails it, it is killer”, “Love’s…” and “Better off gone” are very good songs, very memorable, “Further the sky” is one track that I listened to and liked it more with each visit, not that its a negative, it’s just got a different feel, and finally “Peace of mind” is one of my favorites, it is a departure from all of his other songs in the way that he narrates the story in spoken word, (I have heard him speak in videos, but I don’t think in songs before) very cool idea, great song, really!. John is on tour supporting this album, do yourself a favor and check him out, it is worth every penny!!!